Collapsible scenery



March 4 1924.

J.' L. CARROLL COLLAPSIBLE SCENERY Filed Sent. 26

1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

ATOREY.

Patented Mar. 4, i92

STATS JOHN L. CARROLL, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

COLLAPSIBLE SCENERY.

Application filed September 26, 1921.

'1 '0 all whom a may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN L. CARROLL, a subject of the King of England, and a resident of Bay City, in the county of Bay and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Scenery, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in collapsible scenery and the like, and particularly to scenery such as used in theaters, auditoriums, )ublic shows, or in any place where removable scenery is used.

One object of the invention is to provide a collapsible frame to which the scenery is attached and which can be collapsed into a small compact bundle and be placed in a suitable box for shipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide the canvas or material on which the scenes are painted with elastic edges, so that they will be evenly stretched and will not sag or wrinkle when applied to the frames.

A further object is to provide meansfor 2 detachably securing the canvas or material to the frames in such manner that it can be quickly and easily attached and detached.

A further object still is to provide strong and rigid connections and braces, to insure the frames being rigid and true when set up. With the above and other objects in'view, the present invention consists in the com bination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion and minor details of construction without departing from the O spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a front view of a section of scenery illustrating the canvas detached from one corner thereof.

Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a corner of the collapsible frame illustrating the detachable connection.

Fig. at is an isometric view of thecorner joint.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged isometric detail of the center brace.

, Fig. 6 is a view showing the frame collapsed and ready for boxing.

Serial No. 503,204.

Fig. 7 is a view of the canvas or other material illustrating it folded.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary edge view of the material illustrating it detached from the frame, and

Fig. 9 is a front view thereof.

Fig. 10 is an edge View similar to Fig. 8, the material being shown stretched in place on the frame, and

Fig. 11 is a front view thereof.

In theaters, shows and entertainments of all descriptions, it is usual to have scenery as a background for the stage or platform on which the performance is staged, oftimes the scenery is changed several times during the performance, which is usually divided into several acts, sufiicient time being allowed between acts for changing the performers costumes and the scenery, each show or production usually provides its own scenery suitable to the production to be presented, and this usually includes three or four complete different sets of scenery, heretofore this scenery has been permanently attached to the frames, consequently in transporting from one cit-y or place to another, this has been very expensive, owing to the fact that it must be carried flat and is of unwieldy dimensions it can not be loaded in close proximity to other freight and also occupying considerable space, the haulage from the depot to the theater, has been very expensive, as a flat wagon must be employed so that the scenery can be placed flat thereon, and careless drivers will sit thereon, which naturally permanently bulges and stretclies the canvas, further, obstructions such as poles and the like ofttimes pierce the scenery, requiring patching or discarding of the damaged section, my improved collapsible frame and elastic edged canvas completely eliminates the aforementioned difficulties and makes it possible to use several different sets of canvas with but a single set of frames. 100

In the drawings I have shown but one frame with the canvas applied thereto, but it will be understood that there are a number required for each production, each one of which is constructed identically alike except- 105 ing that occasionally the central brace of one frame is raised or lowered and the frame braced so that a door can be formed in the scenery to enable theperformers to enter and leave the stage. These frames comprise a pair of side members 5 and 5 detachably secured together by the top and bottom members 6 and (5 both of which are identically alike, each top and bottom member being provided with the male tongue portion 7 of a joint 8 which is secured thereto by means of screws or the like, this tongue 7 is formed with beveled edges 9 adapted when assembled to be inserted between the similarly beveled edges of the members 10 which are secured to the side members 5 and 5 by means of screws or the like.

Clasps 11 are securely anchored in spaced relation around the outer edge of the members 5 and 5, the female portion 12 being secured or otherwise fixed in the canvas on which the scenery is painted;

A central transversely disposed brace 13 is provided intermediate the length of each frame, both ends having enlarged pieces which are provided with a pair of dowel pins 14: extending therefrom and adapted to be seated in suitable openings provided in the inner edges of the side members, so that when the frame is assembled, this brace will prevent torsional twisting of the frame, which might be caused in any manner. In especially large frames it might be advisable to provide a number of these transversely disposed brace members 13 to further strengthen the frame, this is however a structural detail to be determined when building.

A. canvas 15 upon which the scenes are painted is stretched across the front of the assembled frame and each canvas is provided with an elastic edge 16 to which the clasps 12 are fastened, this is accomplished by first stretching the elastic and securingthe canvas thereto while stretched, so that when it is applied to the frames the elastic edges will be stretched and the canvas will not bulge and will be smooth on the frame as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings, and should there be any bagginess or bulges formed from any cause while the scenery is on the frame, it will be taken up by the elastic edges, and when it is desired. to change the scenery, it is merely necessary to remove the one set of canvas and attacl'i a different set thereto, and it will be obvious that but one set of frames is all that is re race-sea quired for any number of changes of scenery.

l i hen moving from one city or place to another the frame is collapsed as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, the canvas is folded as shown in Fig. 7 in which form the frame and canvas can be readily and compactly packed in.a box for shipment, and instead of n'iaking three or four trips to the depot to transport the scenery as is necessary with the old type of pern'ianently attached canvas, my one set of frames and any reasonable number of sets of canvas can be conveniently handled in one load and is in no manner subject to damage.

In practise the frames with the canvas attached are usually placed edge to edge on the stage or platform, and can be secured together in any approved manner to form a straight wall, or corners can be formed as required. In this instance I have shown a rope 17 fastened to a screw or the like secured to the edge or back of the frame.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that I have perfected new and useful collapsible scenery which can be quickly and easily attached and removed from the frames, and which can be con'ipactly folded and boxed for transportation.

What I claim is 1. In combination with a collapsible frame comprising spaced apart side, top and bottom members, beveled joint tongues secured to the top and bottom members, and adapted to fit beveled ways secured on the side members, an elastic edged scenery canvas, a plurality of spaced apart clasps anchored in the frame, and means on the canvas adapted to engage the clasp for detachably securing the canvas thereto.

2. In combination with a collapsible frame having spaced apart side, top and bottom members, beveled joint tongues secured to the top and bottom members and adapted to fit beveled ways secured on the side members, elastic edged scenery canvas, means for detachably securing it to the frame, and means for bracing the frame when assembled.

In testimony whereof I afix tnre.

my signa- JOHN L. CARROLL. 

